Saint Leo, Fla. (September 18, 2006) – Saint Leo University women’s soccer player Hannah Beard (Fr., Liverpool, England) was named Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Beard scored her first career hat trick last week, as Saint Leo (6-0-1, 2-0 SSC) defeated Eckerd College 5-0 in an SSC match. Beard opened the scoring with the eventual game-winner in the 24th minute, and then rounded out her hat trick with two goals in a span of just over a minute.

The freshman is currently tied for the team lead with five goals. All five of her strikes have come against Eckerd, including both goals in a 2-0 win over the Tritons in the 2006 season opener.

SLU student-athletes have now claimed a total of four SSC Player of the Week awards in the 2006-07 school year. The women’s soccer team has won three awards already, as both Lizzie Seedhouse (Jr., Sheffield, England) and Lauren Hudson (So., Odessa, Fla.) were defensive selections earlier this year.

The Saint Leo women’s soccer team will host the No. 7 ranked University of Tampa tomorrow night at University Field. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. and can be heard live on the SLU Athletics Audiocast Network at SaintLeoLions.com.